Alignment apparatus for coupling diaphragms of turbines

Abstract

Various embodiments of the disclosure include an alignment apparatus for assembly alignment and load sharing. The alignment apparatus may include: an alignment pin including a first end and an opposing, second end, wherein the first end is configured to couple with a first hole in a first turbine nozzle diaphragm and the second end is configured to couple with a second hole in a second, adjacent turbine nozzle diaphragm. Embodiments of the disclosure may also include a turbine and a combined-cycle power plant. The turbine may include: a first nozzle diaphragm; and a second, adjacent nozzle diaphragm, wherein the first diaphragm is directly coupled to the second diaphragm. The combined-cycle power plant may include: a steam turbine; a gas turbine; a first nozzle diaphragm within the gas turbine; a second, adjacent nozzle diaphragm within the gas turbine; and an alignment pin coupling the first diaphragm directly to the second diaphragm.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An alignment apparatus for a turbine, the alignment apparatus comprising:
 an alignment pin including a first end and an opposing, second end, 
 wherein the first end of the alignment pin is configured to couple with a first hole in a first turbine nozzle diaphragm segment, the first turbine nozzle diaphragm segment including a first nozzle, and wherein the second end of the alignment pin is configured to couple with a second hole in a second, adjacent turbine nozzle diaphragm segment, the second turbine nozzle diaphragm segment including a second nozzle, 
 wherein the first turbine nozzle diaphragm segment is directly coupled to the second turbine nozzle diaphragm segment by the alignment pin. 
 
     
     
       2. The alignment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment pin includes a destructible material that combusts, melts, sublimes, evaporates, or burns away during operation of the turbine. 
     
     
       3. The alignment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment pin includes a spring pin or split pin. 
     
     
       4. The alignment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment pin includes a non-destructible material with at least one end including a tapered tip. 
     
     
       5. The alignment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment pin is configured to support a operational load of at least one of: the first turbine nozzle diaphragm segment or the second turbine nozzle diaphragm segment. 
     
     
       6. A turbine comprising:
 a first diaphragm segment coupled to a first nozzle; and 
 a second, adjacent diaphragm segment coupled to a second nozzle, 
 wherein the first diaphragm segment is directly coupled to the second diaphragm segment by an alignment pin; 
 a first hole in the first diaphragm segment; and 
 a second hole in the second diaphragm segment; 
 wherein the alignment pin is positioned within the first hole in the first diaphragm segment and the second hole in the second diaphragm segment, the alignment pin including a solid dowel. 
 
     
     
       7. The turbine of  claim 6 , wherein the alignment pin includes at least one end having a tapered tip. 
     
     
       8. The turbine of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first hole in the first diaphragm segment or the second hole in the second diaphragm segment is threaded and wherein the alignment pin includes at least one threaded end for matingly engaging with the at least one of the first hole in the first diaphragm segment or the second hole in the second diaphragm segment. 
     
     
       9. The turbine of  claim 6 , wherein the first hole in the first diaphragm segment comprises a countersunk hole and a non-countersunk the second hole in the second diaphragm segment comprises a non-countersunk hole, and wherein the alignment pin is positioned within the countersunk hole in the first diaphragm segment and the non-countersunk hole in the second diaphragm segment. 
     
     
       10. The turbine of  claim 9 , wherein the alignment pin includes a spring pin or split pin. 
     
     
       11. The turbine of  claim 9 , wherein the alignment pin includes a destructible material that is configured to combust during operation of the turbomachine. 
     
     
       12. The turbine of  claim 9 , wherein the alignment pin includes a first end having a first tapered tip and a second, opposing end having a second tapered tip. 
     
     
       13. The turbine of  claim 9 , wherein the alignment pin includes at least one of a polygonal cross-section, an I-beam cross-section, or a C-beam cross-section. 
     
     
       14. The turbine of  claim 9 , wherein the alignment pin is configured to support a load of at least one of: the first diaphragm segment or the second diaphragm segment. 
     
     
       15. A combined-cycle power plant comprising:
 a steam turbine; 
 a gas turbine; 
 a first diaphragm segment coupled to a first nozzle within the gas turbine; 
 a second, adjacent diaphragm segment coupled to a second nozzle within the gas turbine; 
 an alignment pin coupling the first diaphragm segment directly to the second diaphragm segment; 
 a first hole in the first diaphragm segment; and 
 a second hole in the second diaphragm segment; 
 wherein the alignment pin is positioned within the first hole in the first diaphragm segment and the second hole in the second diaphragm segment. 
 
     
     
       16. The combined-cycle power plant of  claim 15 , wherein the first hole in the first diaphragm segment comprises a countersunk hole and the second hole in the second diaphragm segment comprises a non countersunk hole, wherein the alignment pin is positioned within the countersunk hole in the first diaphragm segment and the non-countersunk hole in the second diaphragm segment, and wherein the alignment pin includes a spring pin or a split pin. 
     
     
       17. The combined-cycle power plant of  claim 15 , wherein the alignment pin includes a destructible material that is configured to combust during operation of the turbomachine. 
     
     
       18. The combined-cycle power plant of  claim 15 , wherein the first hole in the first diaphragm segment and the second hole in the second diaphragm segment each comprise a simple hole,
 wherein the alignment pin is positioned within the simple hole in the first diaphragm segment and the simple hole in the second diaphragm segment, and wherein the alignment pin includes a solid dowel having opposing tapered tips.